Rock Slides Detour Train Traffic Through Mountains

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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- Passengers hoping to ride the rails home for the holidays are running into a snag. Rock slides brought on by heavy rain in Glenwood Canyon this week have detoured train traffic.

The slides are affecting Amtrak passengers between Salt Lake City and Denver. Stops west of Denver have been affected, including Granby, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction.

Because the trains aren’t running, passengers will get to their destinations by bus.

“It’s been kind of frustrating. They were looking forward to it. It was going to be a big treat to take the train,” said Amtrak ticket holder Louann Duffy.

The Duffy family’s travel plans have been delayed for two days. Passenger trains are shut down from Salt Lake City to Denver.

“It’s really can we move the trains over to that route in an expedited way? Right now, we can’t,” said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari. “We’re taking the safest possible approach to this.”

Detoured passengers will continue to arrive at Union Station, but instead of boarding a train there, they will catch the bus.

Amtrak will offer refunds for any tickets unused as a result of the rock slides.

Passengers can check the status of Amtrak trains or request a refun by calling 1-800-USA RAIL.